1
April 3, 1905.]
instead of leaving it to outside undertakers. They have also settled a scale of charges for removing coffins to the neighbouring districts of China.
The Po Leung Kuk is indebted to the dir- ectors for arranging to house the inmates of the Po Leung Kuk for the three months that the buildings were vacated on account of the epidemic of beri-beri.
́|
The Directors of the hospital and the Chinese community generally were taken by surprise to find, when the occasion arose for using the infectious diseases branch hospital at Kennedy Town, that small-pox cases could not be received. | It was most unfortunate that such a misunder- standing existed, but a study of the correspon- dence which passed between the government and successive chairmen of the hospital, satisfied every one that there had been no breach of faith on the part of the government.
HONGKONG'S REVENUE.
The Registrar General's report for 1904 is published in the current Hongkong Government Gazette. It states that the revenne collected during the year amounted to $167,083.66, an increase of 86,159 over the amount collected in 1908. The increase in the revenue from hawkers' licences is $4,348. In October, 1903, the fes for a hawker's licence was doubled and is now $4 a year paid half-yearly. The number of licences issued during the year was 12,768.; The revenue from the lease of market premises shows an increase of $4,619, distributed fairly evenly among all the markets with the exception of the Tai-kok-tsui market, where an increase in business is not to be looked for just yet, and the Des Voeux Road Market. The latter is not a complete success from a revenue point of view, At the end of 1903 there were 32 shops and stalls occupied ont of 42; at the end of 1904 there were only 10. The revenue for the month of December fell from $245 in 1903 to $75 in 1904. The extension to the Wanchai market was ready for occupation on the 1st April All the stalls with one exception are let, and the revenue for December was $322, com- pared with $219 for the same month of the previous year. The increased accommodation provided in the So-kon-po market is still considerably in excess of the needs of the neighbourhood, which is not a very populous one, whilst restaurant and eating-house keepers
and those who have to feed a large number of employés, get their supplies from the Wanchai market despite the distance. Licences for the sale of food outside the markets are issued by the Sanitary Board and account for an increase of $2,313.
The largest decrease is one of $2,900 under the head of Certificates to Chinese entering Manila and America, but this is an item which is not under the control of the Department. The revenue from boat licenses has been almost stationary for three years. The revenue from marriages has fallen 37 per cent. The total expenditure during the year was $31,339.71, compared with $35,150,21 in 1903. The decrease is due to no salary being drawn in England during the year, and to the rise in exchange. There was also in 1903 an exceptional ex- penditure on salaries of temporary clerks.
MINDANAO - HONGKONG STEAMERS.
The following appears in the Manila Cablenews:-
Zamboanga, March 18.—Mr. H. A. Hanse, marine agent of the China Navigation Company, has come and gone, but while here he arranged a schedule of passenger and freight rates from Hongkong, and vice versa, which are very much less than those given by Manila shipping firms.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The passenger rate to Hongkong is $30, gold, one way, and $50, gold, round trip, first-class passage. The present rate from Zamboanga to Manila is $40, gold.
In an interview with a Herald representative, Mr. Hanse said that his company was out for the business of the port, and that it could be depended upon that they would lend every
i
assistance to the local merchants.
While here Mr. Hanse extended to every
mercantile firm of this city one complimentary round-trip-first-class passage to Hongkong in order to enable those so desiring to make con- nections with wholesale firms in that city.
Captain H. Pfort, president and general manager of the South Philippines Steamship Company, has been appointed resident agent of the China Navigation Company at this port.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Government derives a revenue of 83,408 a month from the Central Market and $2,262
a month from the Western Market.
The number of postal hongs licensed at Hongkong during 1904 was 36, and of letter carriers 137, as against 42 and 99 respectively in 1903.
The appointment of Mr. H. E R. Hunter as Manager of the Shanghai Branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank is officially announced.
The week's plague return brings the total number of cases for the year up to 22, adding only one to the previous total. The one was a Chinese imported from Canton. Other com. municable disease recorded was small pox, three Chinese cases, and one Indian, imported.
The visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum during the week ending the 26th March, 1905, were 280 non-Chinese, and 91 Chinese to the former, and 103 non-Chinese, and 1,873 Chinese to the latter institution.
There is a considerable importation of live partridges from the neighbouring districts of China into Hongkong, and under Ordinance 8 of 1904 live partridges cannot be offered for sale unless under special licence from the Captain Superintendent of Police.
Mr. F. A. Hazeland on March 25 held an inquest re the death of Tang Yuen, a prisoner in Victoria Gaol, who was under sentence for robbery with violence. The following jury was empanelled.-M. ssrs. J. L. Cotter (foreman), Solomon Curreem and Alexander Bryson. The
verdict was death from natural causes.
Returns showing the employment of prisoners at Hongkong, and the value of their labour last year, appear in the Government Guzette. The total value of the output of 651 prisoners is given as $12,362.84. The basis rates per day range from two to fifteen cents, according to the nature of the work done.
Messrs. Showan Tomes & Co. inform us that they are in receipt of telegraphic information that the Directors of the Yangtse Insurance Association, Ltd, recommend at the general meeting of shareholders a dividend of 20 per cent and a special dividend of 5 per cent and to carry to reserve $50,000.
On March 25th an insaue Chinaman tried to commit suicide by hanging himself to a tree in Caine Road, but was prevented by the Police. On Mar. 26 the police dragged another Chinaman out of the harbour.
The man sub- jumped into the water himself, and sequently, at the Police Station, said he wanted to die.
A Chinaman, who has had a very miraculous escape, was discharged from the Government Civil Hospital on 26 Mar. He is a blacksmith, who, on the 23rd instant, was working on a house in Des Voeux Road Central, fixing a tie- rod. The bamboo supporting him gave way, and he fell to the ground, fifty-four feet, breaking a wooden beam in his descent. His ribs were fractured.
At Hongkong during 1904, 571 permits ware issued for fire crackers, 17 to hold processions, 65 to perform theatricals and 35 to hold religious ceremonies. Owing to complaints from Euro- peans, the firing of orackers is now confined to premises occupied by Chinese.
The
The Tang Wa Hospital vaccinators visit the villages of Hongkong and Kowloon at interval during the cold season, and the number of children vaccinated compares favourably enough with the number of births registered. visits of the vaccinators will be extended in future to Shamshuipo and Kowloon city. Vao- oination of children under six months of age is not compulsory, nor is vaccination compulsory in any case between 1st May and 30th Sept.
Sir H. 8. Berkeley, the Chief Justice, on on March 23rd gave a “Law" dinner at his residence at the Peak. There were present H.E. the Governor, Mr. F. A. Hazeland, Mr. F. B. L Bowley, Mr. H. G. Calthrop, Captain Lester, Mr. C. D. Melbourne, Mr. C. D. Wilkinson, Mr. A. Both, Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., Mr. V. H. Deacon, Mr. C. Ewens, Hon.
Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C., Mr. M. J. D. Stephens, Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, Mr. H. Gedge and
Hon. Dr Ho Kai.
The Singapore Free Press says that in conse quence of complaints received from the authorities at Calcutta, Rangoon, Colombo, Bombay, and Hongkong, regarding seamen (not being natives of the country) being sent to these ports, masters, owners and agents are warned that seamen should not be sent to the above ports; and that vessels from which such seamen are discharged are liable for all expenses incurred in their behalf, including any expense which might be incurred in returning them to the port at which they were discharged.
The Market Charitable Fund which originat- ed in 1891 out of a sum of $1,600 which fell to the disposal of the Registrar General, is now closed, and the small balance of $1.28 which stood to its credit at the close of the year, has been transferred to the Passage Money Fund. Arrangements are being made for the continued payment of their pensions to five persons dependent on it. The Passage Money Fund is used as far as possible exclusively for the benefit of women and children. The balance to the credit of the fund is now $3 831.91.
"
An extraordinary general meeting of Peak Club members was held on the 22nd March to consider a request from the Honorary Secretary of the Peak School for the use of a part of the Club premises during summer months from After a lengthy discussion eight a.m. to noon. one of the members asked if such a contingency was provided for by the memorandum of association. By reference, it was found that
the Club by the articles of association premises could not be used for other purposes than the Club. The land on which the Club stands belongs to Messrs. Butterfield and Swire and Jardine, Matheson and Company, who formerly agreed not to build on it. subsequently let the Peak Club have the site conditionally at a nominal rental, one condition being that mentioned.
The firms
800" rewarded with
On March 19th, reports the Singapore Free Press, a European seated in the verandah of his house was attracted by the curious action of a riosha coolie: The toolie appeared to be very kind heartedly feeding a number of fowls, but on the gentleman watching him a little longer he saw him suddenly grab a fowl and stuff it into the box under the seat of his ricsha. Not satisfied with one fowl the coolie set to work again to coax all the stray poultry in the vicinity within reach by scattering rice on the roadside, and he was another capture which he stowed in his nether garments. The European then went up to the ooolie and said he wanted to engage his vehicle, but the coolie emphatically declared he was engaged. Despite his protestations he was The interpretation department at Hongkong made to pull the gentleman as far as the nearest consists of 66 posts divided into three classes. policeman, a plump bantam escaping from his There are now eight student interpreters, two trousers on the way, and running sorom the of whom are on the point of completing their road in great excitement. He was given in full term of study. One Tang Tat-hung custody and on the box of his ricsha being btained a special prize for translation from examined a fine fat hen was found in it. The addition to the saving in freights and commis- Chinese to English at the annual examination coolie was charged next morning and in his sions the duties paid are expended in this in Queen's College. Four others will be qualifi.defence said the fowl flew into the ricsha and Two student hid itself. The Magistrate fined him $5, or a province, the new arrangement is mosted by the close of the year.
week's hard labour. gratifying.
interpreters were appointed in 1904.
On many items, the freight rate 'rom Hong- kong to this port is less than half, and on all articles is at least 25 per cent less than those from Manila. When it is considered that the prices paid for imports in Bongkong are very below those in Manila, and that in
much